This year the Ontario Home Economics Association is not only here to help with holiday entertaining tips, recipes, and healthy holiday eating advice, we have also created the perfect gift for family and friends!

The Vegetarian’s Complete Quinoa Cookbook is the only book you need to incorporate quinoa into your daily dinner or party feast; all recipes are vegetarian making it perfect for everyone! It features over 125 recipes, contributed by professional home economists, for quinoa-based meals that can take you right through the day.

Get a head start on holiday preparations by making delicious and colourful jars of a cranberry relish or chutney. Cranberries celebrate the season with their rich colour and bright taste and are easily turned into a welcome hostess gift or a treat for a special friend.

Holiday celebrations mean lots of friends, family, fun and food. Of course the turkey and stuffing are a given, but oven space is always at a premium. Take advantage of your slow cooker to prepare a few appetizers or condiments a day or two ahead, make the stuffing in the morning and have it warming during the day or keep a hot drink simmering.

A familiar tune reminds us that “chestnuts are roasting on an open fire”, yet most don't experience such an event as we scramble to write cards, wrap gifts, host parties, prepare food, and create our own memories. Despite all the preparations we make for the “perfect” holiday season, many times the best part really does begin in the kitchen. Foods served at this festive time can become family favourites, creating wonderful traditions and warm memories to pass along to other generations. Professional Home Economists were asked to share some of their favourite family recipes. Here are a few that we think you will enjoy, year after year. Much of the fun is sharing “family time” in the kitchen, so grab a partner and cook up some culinary memories this holiday season.

Is this really possible or is it just another oxymoron? Healthy eating during the upcoming holiday season is absolutely possible and, like anything else, in order to succeed you need to do some planning.